Cup forming and dispensing mechanism for beverage vending machines



NOV. 20, 195] 1 H KING CUP FORMING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES 4 SheetsSheet 1 Filed June 20, 1950 FIG] - JULIUS H. KING INVENTOR ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 J. H. KING 2,575,386

CUP FORMING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JULIUS H. KING INVENTOR BYWM ATTORNEY Nov. 20, 1951 J. H. KING CUP FORMING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 20, 1950 INVENTOR BYW M JULIUS H. KING FIG? ATTORNEY NOV. 20, 1951 J m 2,575,386

CUP FORMING AND DISPENSING MECHANISM I FOR BEVERAGE VENDING MACHINES Filed June 20, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIGJO JULIUS H. KING INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 20, 1951 CUP FORMING AND DISPENSING MECHA7 NISM FOB BEVERAGE VENDING CHINES Julius H. King, New York, N. Y.

Application June 20, 1950, Serial No. 169,159 I 6 Claims. -(Cl. 93-36115) This invention relates to a combined cup form ing and dispensing mechanism for a beverage vending machine using drinking cups.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for forming drinking cups from diecut and pre-glued blanks and whereby the feed ing of the individual cup blanks from a stack of blanks will take place at the lower level' of the stack of blanks, thereby permitting a stack of practically unlimited height to be serviced to the vending machine. l

Another object of this invention is to provide cups having pre-glued side flaps, the glue being of a pre-determined consistency so that when moistened, the flaps will quickly adhere to the dry sides of the formed drinking cups.

Another object of this invention is to provide mechanism for forming drinking cups of substantially rectangular form and which are inherently open for use, each cup having two pouring lips.

- With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the combined cup forming and dispensing mechanism, the casing being partly broken away to show the mechanism therein.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a formed cup having pouring lips thereon, the cup being shown.

on an enlarged scale.

:Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism; Figure 4 is an end view of a fragmentary portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side view of a fragmentary portion of the mechanism.

-Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 -6 in Figure 3, and shows supporting and Figure 10 is a front view of a water tank hav Figure 11 is a cross-sectional viewtaknon line II-II in Figure "3.

In the illustrated embodiment of the inven- I tion, the numeral III indicates a beverage vend-" '-I6 are suitably fixed to a slottedtube I8 which is mounted-to oscillate on an elongated rod I9.- The rod I9 has flattened ends which are slidably mounted in slots 2I, best shown in Figures 4and5.

Fixedly mounted on a shaft 23 is a disk 24. A lever arm engages the shaft 23 and is fixed I to the disk 24 by a screw 26. A connecting arm 21 has one end pivotally secured to the lever arm 25 by a pin 28. The other end of the-connect" ing arm 21 has a collar 29 mounted on the mid ing a perforated roller shaft, the tank-and shaft being partly broken away to show water transfer means.

channels 31, 31.

portion of the slotted tube I8. The base I3-has an elongated rectangular-opening 30. through which the'eccentricportions I! of the cams I6 pass upwardly into gripping contact with the; lowest blank I4. Itis to be noted that the cup blanks I4 are made of flat waterproofed paper..;. The tube I8 has two slots 32 positioned radially therein. Pins 33 are fixed radially in the rod I9 and engage-the walls of the. slots 32. The pins. ,33 permit limited oscillationsof the tube I8 .on the rod I9. The cams I6 are fixed to the tube- I8 and oscillate with the tube. V It is to be noted that the slots 32 are of sufiicient extent to permit the grippers I6 to oscillate to a position below the base during the return motionto the initial feeding position. Asbest shown .in Figure 5, there isv provided, a magazine 35 comprising a front upright channel 36, a rear upright channel 36' and two side;

It is, to be noted that the elongated rectangular opening 30 forms a pocket below the base I3. I 7,

The engaging andfeeding means I5 for the cup blanks I 4 consists of the connecting army 2'! which is pivotally secured to the lever arm 25 by the pin 28. The feeding means I5 alsoincludes the disc- 24 which is fixedly mounted; on the shaft 23. The shaft 23- is rotatably mounted in bear-- ings 40 suitably fixed to thebase I3. .A sprocket 4| is fixed to the free end of the shaft 23 and is driven by a sprocket chain 42' in meshed engagement with a sprocket 43 on a shaft 44 1'0- tatably mounted in a bearing 45 on the base 13. A spur gear l6 mounted on the shaft M2 is in meshed engagement with a segmental gear at mounted on a shaft 48 whichis rotatably supported in abearing 55 on the base t3;

The machine it includes a male die 55 comprising two die members 55, 56 having sidegrooves T, 57. The grooves house clamps 58, 58 each having a slot 59 which engages pins 5t, 6!! fixed in the die members 56. The pinned clampsmaintain the die members in assembled relation. Springs GI, 51 positioned between the die memhers 56 cause the die members to be spring- I spring 85 positioned intermediate the plungers causes the plungers, to be spring-pressed from each other. Clamp strips 66 suitably fastened to the die; members 56 retain the. plungers 64 in operating position in the male die. 55.

Brackets-58 are suitably fixed at the upper faces of the, die: members. 55 and have pins. 65 which engagea slot Win a connecting. bracket TI. The bracket Tl has an aperture 1-2.

Figure- 6 is a. cross-sectional view takenon line 6,- -6 in Figure l and shows the male die 55 depending from a rod 75 suitably supported for ver ticalslidingmovement-in a. bearing 15. The male die. 55 is positioned centrally with an over an opening 11;, formed by bevelling the. base downwardlyso as to communicate with a. cupforming female die. 18. Below the female die is a cup chute 19 having a base 80 forming a restfor a f nished. cup. The cup chute 19 has two frictionally engaging cup retaining; arms 8 I.

Figure- 6 shows supporting and actuating mechanism85- for lowering the male die; 55. downwardly the female, die I8 to forma cup. or for. raising the; male die 55 upwardly into non-operating position.

The mechanism 85- comprises a. gear 86- rotatably mounted in abearingflt fixedtozthe base l3. Acrank 88 is fixedv to the gear 86. and hasi-ts free. endengagecl by a. pivot. pin 89. to alink9|l1 The other: end. of the link 90 isconnecteda by. a pivot. pin; 51: to. the lower. end portion. of; a rodz9i2i which iszslidably mountedin abearing 931 to. aside wall 942 of; the beverage vending. machine "if.

The upper portion of. the rod 92 is-connectedby a pivot pin 95. to an angularly: directed. lever; 95 which is fulcrumed'. on a bolt 9:1 to a. bracket 98 supported; on the. wall 94. The pin. 95isslidably mounted in. a slot 95: in. thelever 95..

The upper end portion of the lever: 96; has. a. slot Hill which receives'a pivot pin I'lll in; slidable; engagement. The pin l fll is fixed to the. upper portion of the rod 75'. A coil spring [112' con;-

nected' at one end to the lever 56' and at? the other" end to' the wall retains the rod l5 and the. male die 55 in raised position while'a cup blank is being fed to cup forming position.

Itis-to be noted that each cup blank 14 has two sides I03, each withpre-glued flaps I04 and two non-gluedsi'cl'es 15-. These sides are of generally rectangular shape so that the for-med or finished' cups l2 will have a generally rectangular outline.

The mechanism for forming the drinking cups 12 also comprises a water tan-k l-l ll suitably supi- 4 ported above the base l3 and having a perforated tubular shaft HI and water absorbing moisture transfer rollers H2, rotatably mounted on the shaft Ill. The lower surfaces of the moisture transfer rollers H2 are positioned to contact a cup blank 14 when the blank is passed thereunder andto moisten the glued side: flaps 104 on the cup blank.

It will be noted that the tubular shaft l l I has yperforations H3 at its mid-portion and in position to receive water from the water tank. It will al'sobe noted that the tubular shaft H I has small perforations H4 which are positioned substantially at the mid-portions of the moisture transfer rollers H2. The rollers are made of water absorbing material and absorb the water passing through the perforations HI and H3. The; shaft 1 H is maintained in water sealing relation at both side walls of the water tank by suitable annular packing H5.

1 As shown in Figure 5, the segmental gear 41 has teeth which extend only around one-half. of its circumference. The. numbers of teeth onthe gears 4.? and 86 are equal. When the gear is rotated so that its teeth mesh with the teeth of the gear 86, the gear 85 is rotated. a complete revolution,v whereby the crank 88 actuates the link 90, the rod. 92, the lever 95 and the rod 1-5 and. this causes the male die 55 to be lowered and to lower a cup blank l4 into the female die 1-8 to. form. a drinking cup [2.

In operation, when a. coin is inserted into the Vending; machine 10.. the drive shaft 48 which is suitably connected to a motor 5i, causes the segmental gear 4 1 shown in. Figure 5' to rotate: the gear 46. mounted. on the shaft: 44.

Whenthe segmental gear 41 rotates one-half a revolution, the gear 45 actuatesthe sprocket gear 43 and: the sprocket chain 42, and the sprocket gear 4| and the shaft 23.

The. shaft 23 rotates. the disk 24 which moves the lever arm 25 and the; connecting. arm 2:! up: to the position shown inE-igure 11', when the eccentric portion ll: of the gripping and feeding. mechanism, l5 has. completed. the. feeding move-- ment of a cup blank M from. the magazine 35 to? a position; in registration with the chute 1-9. Thezcup blank Mguidedby side: plates H19- and top: plates I08. When. the segmental gear 4-1; rotates the gear 86 the male die 55 is moved down wardly and lowersthe cupblank. 14' lying. onthe base 13- above. the opening: ill and forces; the; cup blank into the female die-1k and forms a drink ing cup Hi.

The cupforming. male; die 55; has two duplicate die members. 55-.v 5.6.. which are pushed. towards; each other by the walls of. the female die [8. against; the. action. of: the springs 511, SL- At. the same time: the'lipeforming plungersfi i are pushed towards. each. other. by the walls. of the female. die 18 against. the. action of: the; spring 55. When the major portion of the die-.5-5:- passes below the female die 18* and: before. the: formed. cup. is disengaged. from. the dies, the. lip-forming plungers Mare: caused by the pressure of: the. spring: 65- to move radially outwardly and move two upper sideportions of" the cup: l2' beyond the walls of the female die 18 and through two triangular openings .6 in the lower portion of the; said did thereby forming. the-pouring lips: 22.

When the formed-drinking cup 12 is lowered by the maledie 55 below the female die 18-, the two pouring lips 22 extend beyond the sides of the 1 female-'die' which then acts as a stripper'andi re.-

iiiaie die 55 during its rising motion to remove the formed cup from the chute 19. The drinking cup l2 then drops down and rests on the bottom wall 80 of the chute 19.

I have found that when glue is applied to the flaps of the cups while the cups are formed from pre-formed but unglued blanks, that the applied glue does not set quickly and therefore the formed cup comes apart before use when released from the forming die. I have accordingly applied quick-setting glue to the flaps and when the cup is formed the flaps remain in adhered position.

It is to be noted that instead of glueing the side flaps I may apply a substance such as plastic to the flaps and I will then secure the flaps merely by applying heat and pressure.

It is also to be noted that the gist of this invention is to make it possible to mount a stack of superposed flat blanks of practically unlimited height so as to reduce the amount of servicing required in the operation of the machine.

It is also to be noted that this invention is not limited to coin operated vending machines, but may be incorporated for use in all types of liquid dispensing machines.

In operation, when the eccentric feeding portions [1 of the rubber grippers I6 have delivered a cup blank [4 in registry with the chute E9, the segmental gear 41 is out of engagement with the gear 46, and a counter-weight I connected to a chain I2l which is secured to the connecting arm 21 at a point I22, causes the chain to pull the rubber grippers l6 back to the starting or initial feeding position. The eccentric portions I! are then in position to start feeding another cup blank to the dies and this feeding takes place as soon as the teeth on the gear 4'! engage the teeth on the gear 86. Accordingly, the cup forming mechanism II and the blank feeding mechanism I5 work in timed relation.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various charges and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a beverage vending machine, mechanism for forming drinking cups having pouring lips, comprising a base upon which a plurality of diecut and pre-glued fiat cup blanks are supported in vertically stacked relation, said base having an opening, engaging and feeding mechanism for said cup blanks mounted below said base, said feeding mechanism having eccentric cam portions positioned to extend slightly above said base through said opening, said eccentric cam portions contacting the lower blank of said stack for feeding one blank at a time laterally of said stack, a water tank supported on said base and having water-absorbing rollers mounted on said shaft for transferring moisture to said blank, the lower surfaces of said rollers being positioned to contact said lower blank when said blank is fed thereunder for moistening the glue on said blank, a male die comprising two relatively movable members spring-pressed from each other, means for guiding said blank for movement to said male die, said eccentric feeding mechanism being adapted to feed said moistened blank into registry with said male die, a female die, said base having a downwardly bevelled opening communicating with said female die, each of said cup blanks having two pre-glued flaps and two non-glued '8 sides, means for moving said male die and said registering cup blank downwardly into said female die to form said cup, the spring-pressure between said male die members causing said pre-glued and moistened flaps of said cup to adhere to the nonglued sides of said cup, said pouring lips acting as strippers for stripping said cup fromsaid male die, means for raising said male die, into nonoperating position above said base while said blank feeding mechanism feeds another blank in-; to registry with said dies and means for lowering said male die when said blank is moved into registry with said dies while said blank feeding mechanism is at rest.

2. In a beverage vending machine, mechanism for forming drinking cups therefor, comprising a base upon which a plurality of die-cut and pre-glued cup blanks are supported in ver.-' tically stacked relation, said base having an opening, engaging and feeding mechanism for blanks mounted below said base, said engaging mechanism having an eccentric portion positioned at the moment of feeding to extend slightly above said base through said opening, said eccentric portion contacting the lower blank of said stack for feeding one blank at a time laterally of said stack as limited by a single blank passageway, a moistening water tank supported on said base and having a water-absorbing roller rotatably mounted therein and having end portions adapted for transferring moisture to said blank, the lower surface of said moisture transfer roller being positioned to contact said lower blank whensaid blank is fed thereunder for moistening the glue on said blank, a contractible spring-pressed cup forming die, means for guiding said blank for movement to said cup forming die, said eccentric engaging mechanism being adapted to feed said moistened blank to said cup forming die, a forming chute, said base having a downwardly bevelled opening communicating with said forming chute, each of said cup blanks having two pre-glued sides and two non-glued sides, said cup forming die comprising two relatively movable members springpressed from each other, means for moving said cup forming die and said cup blank downwardly into said forming chute to form said cup, the spring pressure between said cup forming die members causing said pre-glued and moistened side walls of said cup to adhere to the non-glued sides of said cup, said cup having lips acting as strippers for stripping said cup from said cup forming die, means for raising said cup forming die into non-operating position above said base while said blank feeding mechanism feeds an other blank to said forming chute, and means for lowering said cup forming die when said blank is moved into registry with said forming chute while said blank feeding mechanism is at rest.

3. In a beverage vending machine, mechanism for forming drinking cups therefor, comprising a base upon which a plurality of die-cut cup blanks having pre-glued side flaps are supported in ver tically stacked relation, said base having an opening, engaging and feeding means for said cup blanks mounted below said base, said engaging and feeding means having eccentric cam por tions positioned to extend slightly above said base through said opening during the feeding action of each blank, a single blank passageway, said eccentric portions contacting the lowest blank of said stack for feeding one blank at a time laterally of said stack as limited by said passageway, a water tank supported above said base and having a hollowperforated shaft and water-absorbing molstening' rollers rotatably :mounted "on :said shaftptherlower surfaces :of. saidmoisture transfer rollers being positioned :to contact said lower blank when said blank lS'lfed zthereunder for m'oistening thegluelonisaid blank,-.a..contractible spring-pressed .cup forming rdie, ..spaced-apart means for "guiding said blank for movement to 'saidcup forming die, said eccentric "engaging means .b'eingalso adaptedito feedisaid moistened blank to said cup forming die, :a cup forming chute, said base havingfla downwardly :bevelled opening communicating with said .cup forming chute, each of :said rcup Jblanks having "two "preglued flaps and two non-glued sides, said cup forming die comprising two relatively movable members spring=pressed from eachxother, means for-moving said cup forming die and said cup blank downwardly into *said forming chute .to form'said cup, the spring pressure between said cupzfo'rming die'members causing said preeglued and-moistened side flaps of said cup to adhere to the non-glued sides ofwsaid cup,zsaid.iormed cup'having lips actingas strippers for stripping said cup from said cup forming die, meanslfor raising said cup forming die into non-operating positionv above. said .basewhile said blank feeding meansfeeds another cup blankto .said :forming chute, :and means for lowering-saidcup :forming die-afterisaid otherlcup blank is mcved'into'registry with said. forming chute Whilezsaid blank feed- 5? ing means isat rest.

.Said base: through said opening during the feeding action of each blank-a single blank passageway, said ieccentric portions contacting the lowest blank of saidstack forfeeding. one blank at:a time laterally of said stack as limited by said; passageway, a water tank supported :above saidbase and having a perforatedgtubular shaft and water-absorbingmoistening rollers rotatably mounted'on said-shaft, the lower surfaces of said moisture transferrollers being positioned'to-contact said lower :blank when said blank is .fed thereunder for moistening the gluedsidefiaeson said blank, a oontractible spring-pressed 4 cup forming-male die, spaced-apart means guiding said lower blank for movement to said cup forming male die, said eccentric engaging means being adapted to feed said moistened blank into registry with said cup forming male-dies cup formingfemale :die,-said base having-a downwardly bevelled opening communicating with said cup form-ing female die, each of said cup blanks having twgisides each with pre-glued flaps-,andtwo non-glued sides, said male die comprising two relatively movable members springspressed from eachother, meansformovingsaid male die and said registering cup blank downwardly into said femaledie to form-said cup, the spring pressure betweensaid male die members causingsaid preglued and moistened side flaps to adhere to the non-glued-sides of said cup, said formed cup havinglips coacting with the bottom edge of said female .die for stripping-said cup from said male die, means for raising said cup forming male. die,

into non-operating position above said base while blank feeding meansfeedsanothen cup blank into registry with saidformingdies,:and means for lowering said male cup forming die after said other cup blank islmoved into registry with said forming dies while said blank feeding means is at rest.

5.. Ina beveragevending machine, mechanism for forming drinking cups therefor, comprisingi-a base having a magazine wherein a large number of cup blanks having pre-gluediside flaps aresuptported in vertically stacked relation, said base having an opening, engaging and feeding means for said icup blanks mounted below said base; said engaging and feeding means having eccentric cam portions positioned to extendslightly above said base through said opening during the -.feeding action of each blank, said magazine having a single blank passageway, said eccentric portions contacting the. lowest blank of said stack ,for feeding one blank at a time laterally of said stack as limitedby.saidrpassageway, a water tank supported above said base and having a perforated tubular shaft and Water-absorbing moistening rollers rotatably mounted on said shaft, the lower surfaces of said moisture transfer rollers'being positioned to contact said lower blank when said blank is fed thereunder for moistening the glued side flaps on said blank, a ,contractible spring-1 pressed cup forming male die, spaced-apart plates guiding said lower blankformovement to said cup forming male die, said eccentric engaging means being adapted to feed said moistened blank into registry with said cup form-ingimale dieyapcup forming female die, said base having-a downwardly bevelled opening communicating with saidrcup formingfemale die,'each of said cup blanks havingtwo sides each with preg1ued flaps and two non-glued sides, said male diecome prising'two relatively movable members springpressed from each other, means for moving said male die and said registering cup blank downwardly into said female die to form said cup, the spring pressure between said'male die'members causing saidpre-glued and moistened side flaps to adhere to the non-glued sides of said cup, said formed cup having pouring l ips- -coacting with the bottom edge of said female die, for. stripping said cup from said male die, means' for raising said cup forming male die intonom-operatingpositionabove said base While said-blank feeding means feedsanother cup blank into registry with said forming dies, and means for loww ering said cup forming male die after said other cup blank is moved into registry with said dies while said 'cupblank feeding means is at rest.

6. In a beveragevending machine, mechanism for forming drink-ing cups therefor from cup blanks having pre-glued side flaps, each of said cup blanks having two sides'each with pre-g-lued flaps and two non-glued sides, comprising a base having a magazine wherein a large numberof said cup blanks are supported in vertically stacked'relation, said base having an opening, engaging andfeeding means for said cup blanks mounted below said base, said feeding means having eccentric cam portions positioned to .extend slightlyabove said base through said open ing. during the feedingaction of each blank,said magazine having a passageway for a single blank, said eccentric portions contacting the lowest blank of said stack for feeding one blank atla timelaterally.ofrsaidstacklas limited by said pas' sageway, a water tank having a perforated tubularshaft and moistening rollers mounted on said shaft, the lower surfaces of said rollers being positioned tocontact said lowerlblank whensaid blank is fed thereunder for moistening said glued flaps thereon, a contractible spring-pressed cup forming male die, spaced-apart plates guiding said lower blank for movement to said cup forming male die, said eccentric engaging means being adapted to feed said moistened blank into registry with said cup forming male die, a cup forming female die, said base having a bevelled opening communicating with said cup forming female die, said male die comprising relatively movable members spring-pressed from each other, means for moving said male die and said registering cup blank into said female die to form said cup, the spring pressure between said male die members causing said pre-glued and moistened flaps to adhere to the non-glued sides of said cup, said male die having slidable members adapted to form pouring lips on said cups, said pouring lips coacting with the bottom edge of said female die for stripping said cup from said maledie, means for raising said male die into non-operating position while said blank feeding means feeds another cup blank into registry with said forming dies, and means for lowering said male die into said female die after said other cup blank is file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,037,372 Upton et al. Sept. 3, 1912 2,140,665

Carew Dec. 20, 1938 

